Daily Archives: February 20, 2009
I took a minute to sit in on Jerry Manuel’s Q&A with reporters form the conference room at Tradition Field.
Manuel was asked if it worries him that players are developing blisters from his much-talked about hitting drill, to which he said no, he’s trying to get them ready, strong and disciplined for the season.
The idea, he explained, is to swing at every pitch, good or bad, and to stress eye-hand coordination. The next phase is stressing opposite-field hitting, on every pitch, followed by a third phase that will ask each player to be more focused and selective.
“There has to be a certain level of discipline,” he said, “if you want to take it to the next level.”
Also, he said Brian Schneider should get the bulk of playing time at catcher this season, getting days off mostly for rest.
The team will play a nine inning and seven-inning intrasquad game on Monday and Tuesday next week – he joked that Jay Horwitz will be the opposing manager.
The first game, on Feb. 23, will have Jon Niese starting for Team A and Dillon Gee starting for Team B, while on Feb. 24, John Maine will start for Team A and Oliver Perez will start for Team B.
I will not lie, when this guy laughs, with that booming ha ha, I can’t help but laugh with him.
I walked through the clubhouse earlier to get to the 
main field, and noticed the 32” flat-screen TVs Jerry Manuel had installed. There is one every 10 feet or so, tucked up on the pillars throughout the room.
It looks like he has a DVD in there, with different chapters titled, ‘Hitting to Opposite Field,’ and, ‘Hit and Run,’ etc., so he can gather the team as a group, hit play, and explain what he is looking for.
By the way, Robert Parnell threw live batting practice to a group of player, which included Ryan Church and Daniel Murphy. Parnell looked good, though he was hardly throwing full speed. In fact, the hitters mostly took pitches, but when Murphy swung, he clobbered the ball.
Fernando Martinez also took live batting practice, as he apparently has been cleared to return to action. He has an amazing swing.
Tagged Notebook |Here is some video of random drills throughout the day, including the pitching machine shooting pop ups, and infielders and pitchers working on covering the bunt – the best part is Wright working in his pitching delivery:
Here is a animated .gif of Luis Castillo fielding a ground ball:
Here are some other photographs from my day in camp so far.
To keep an eye on my entire photo album from Tradition Field, including hi-res versions of the pictures in this post, click here.
Tagged Notebook |Update, 11:09 am:
The pitchers and infielders are working on how to cover a bunt (see below). They each rotate in on the drill, the coach rolls out the ball, and they act out certain situations.
However, I’m not sure how they concentrate with the smell of burgers and dogs wafting in from the grill behind the backstop.
Update, 10:55 am:
I just talked with John Franco, who talked with me about being an instructor, teaching veterans, falling in and out of favor with fans over rumors about Scott Kazmir, and whether he could be the left-handed reliever this season.
I’ll have video and a text of the interview up later.
By the way, Luis Castillo looks quick and light on his feet while fielding ground balls and turning double plays, and Marlon Anderson is about 15 pounds lighter than last season.
Update, 10:40 am:
The second photo is of Jeff Wilpon and John Franco watching the infield drills. I’m waiting to speak with Franco, who will be a special instructor with Mets this season.
Original Post:
The outfielders are getting their pop ups fed to them from the pitching machine, as you can see:
The team will report to camp early today, around 8 am, for a meeting and workshop on how best to deal with the media.
From what I understand, the players are expected to take the field around 10 am.
According to Adam Rubin of the Daily News, Darryl Strawberry has arrived to Mets camp, and is in the clubhouse.
Steve Popper of the Bergen Record says Strawberry, as well as John Franco and Tim Teufel are in camp to speak with the players during today’s workshop – also on his blog, Popper provides a long quote from Jerry Manuel about his much-talked-about hitting drill.
…i was under the impression that franco and the team had a bit of a falling out, so it’s nice to hear he may be in camp…
By the way, go to Rubin’s blog to see Howard Simmons’s always-impressive photographs from yesterday’s camp.
Here is Episode 2 of last night’s video diary for SNY, during which I talk with Kevin Burkhardt prior to him hosting Mets Hot Stove at Duffy’s, and after which I speak with Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen, the transcript of which you can below the video player:
Matthew Cerrone: What’s it like doing the interview with Burkhardt in front of all these fans, it must be kind of fun?
Dan Warthen: Ever since I came to New York, June 17 last year, it’s been fun. This is the place to be, it really is. This is actually my first time in this Duffy’s. I’ve been in the other Duffy’s. I’ve never been to this one. I didn’t realize it was this packed. So, I’ll be back again.
Matthew Cerrone: It seems like the big thing in camp this season with Jerry Manuel is his team-first message – as coaches, what do you guys do to help him reinforce this idea?
Dan Warthen: We follow his lead. 100 percent. He gave one of the best talks this morning that I’ve heard in my 39 years of professional baseball. As far as all of these people going to the WBC, the teams that they’re going to represent are running across the front of their uniform, which is their country… He asked they make the Mets are our own little country, and make sure we represent us as a country of our own and as a group we are our own citizens. He’s made everyone step up and be accountable.
Matthew Cerrone: Before I let you guy, these look like Jerry’s glasses. Is this something new for the coaching staff, or did you start this trend?
Dan Warthen: I had them first, then Jerry lost like his first 14 pair last year. I was able to hold on to them, though they are super-glued together.
To watch Mike Pelfrey’s appearance on Mets Hot Stove, during which he talks about the overall feeling in camp; this year compared to last year; Warthen, who, he says, ‘works on a pitcher’s strengths and does not try to change things;’ the improved bullpen; his curve ball, and welcoming the pressure of knowing he’ll get the ball every fifth day; click here.
…pelfrey actually takes two passive shots at Rick Peterson in his talk with SNY… first, saying warthen is the best pitching coach a guy could ask for, and then saying he always wanted to throw his curve ball, ‘but it took a guy like Dan Warthen to let me do it.’… zing…
To watch Burkhardt interview Warthen, who talks about bringing John Maine’s curve ball back; his expectations for Mike Pelfrey; the bullpen; and how his team will choose the fifth starter, a decision which considers history, talent, potential and money; click here.
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